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What is a prayer for judgment in North Carolina?
A prayer for judgment in N.C. is a guilty plea to an offense but it isn't entered into your record.Skip to article
Written by:
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the
USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the
USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
Question: What is the law for a prayer for judgment? Does this apply only to traffic citations or citations in general?
Answer: You didn’t mention your state. However, the prayer for judgment (PJC) is unique to North Carolina.
What is a prayer for judgment? A prayer for judgment is a guilty plea that asks that the offense isn’t entered into the record against you. And prayer for judgments can only be used twice per household in a five-year time period.
But for the purpose of North Carolina car insurance, insurance companies typically only recognize one PJC per household every three years.
The conditions typically include that if, within a specific time period, the accused repeats the crime or a similar one, they will face both charges. However, if the accused stays clean for the time period the record is expunged, the accused will face no trial or punishment for the alleged offense. In North Carolina, the probationary time period is typically three years.
But the petition isn’t guaranteed — a PFJ can result in increased car insurance costs, license suspension and license points. And whether you receive a prayer for judgment continued is up to the court’s discretion.
If you have used the prayer for judgment plea for a traffic offense or other type of violation of the law in North Carolina, then you should have been advised of the conditions you must follow.
A prayer for judgment isn’t an option for a DWI charge or speeding tickets for driving more than 15 mph over the speed limit. And remember: A successful petition is not a guarantee and is at the judge’s mercy.
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the
USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Executive Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
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Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.
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Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the
USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.